Free resource
Picture the Poet was a poetry programme we ran with the National Portrait Gallery and poetry organisation, Apples and Snakes. This teaching resource pack offers a wide range of standalone poetry activities for the classroom.
Young City Poets
Young City Poets gives pupils the opportunity to visit famous cultural venues in their city, using the visits to inspire poetry.
About the programme
Through a visit to an iconic London venue, including the Tower of London, the Barbican and St Paul's Cathedral, Young City Poets helps to inspire pupils to write poetry of their own. We will be working with 45 schools and nine cultural venues across London.
Following the visit to a cultural venue, schools taking part in the project receive a workshop with a poet or spoken word artist to help the pupils shape and develop their poems. Teachers taking part in the project reported improvements in their pupils' attitudes to writing and attainment.
We are recruiting for 2020-21.
Schools will receive:
- A teacher CPD focusing on using a memorable experience to inspire reluctant writers (online or in person – Nov 2020).
- A memorable experience for students (this could involve a visit to a cultural venue or a socially distanced alternative).
- An online or in person visit from a poet to work with the class on editing and performing their poems.
- Membership to the National Literacy Trust worth £100, with access to courses and resources to support literacy teaching in school.
- The opportunity for students to perform their poetry either online or in person (TBC).
- A free Audible account full of great audiobooks to inspire your students.
- A chance for students to be published in an anthology.
This project is aimed at groups of reluctant writers in Years 5 to 9 from state schools with over 25% of pupils receiving free school meals.
We aim to begin delivery in January 2021.
Please get in touch with angus.woodhams@literacytrust.org.uk to sign up.
Download
Evaluations
Read evaluation reports for our poetry programmes.
Research View detailsYoung City Poets - Evaluation Report 2018/19
This report looks at the fourth year of the poetry programme and its impact.Research View detailsYoung City Poets - evaluation report
This report looks at year two of the poetry programme and the impact it has had.Research View detailsPicture the Poet: school programme evaluation report 2016
This report outlines evaluation findings from the Picture the Poet schools programme, which aimed to increase enjoyment of poetry reading, writing and performance.